Proposal No. 101 Proposal No. 102 Name: Arrion Azimi Name: George Zhang Delegation: Albany YMCA Delegation: South Valley/SV YMCA 1 TOPIC OF CONCERN: 1 TOPIC OF CONCERN: 2 Federalizing and reforming education 2 This proposal calls for mandatory fact checking by a third party for all 3 3 commercial media outlets. 4 JUSTIFICATION: 4 5 The education system in America, one of the most prosperous and powerful nations 5 JUSTIFICATION: 6 in the world, is broken. According to a study from Newsweek, the U.S. ranks #26 on 6 It’s undeniable that people assume the news they watch is factual. 7 the List of 100 Countries with the Best Education. This is due to lack of a steady 7 Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. There have been many cases where 8 curriculum, which allows certain districts to teach biased curriculum and private 8 the breaking news of the day is blatantly incorrect, with the usual victims being 9 schools with religious agendas to ignore certain material (according to a study by 9 the new media, politicians, and whatever’s popular among the current 10 TIME, private school test scores are on the same level as public school ones, and the 10 generation. Perhaps the most well-known example among teenagers is the 2008 11 education from public schools is usually less biased). The US also lacks the effective 11 Fox News report on the Mass Effect “sex scandal”, where it was alleged by an 12 trade school system of Europe, which benefits both the economy and students 12 invited speaker that there was“full digital nudity and sex” and that players 13 uninterested in higher learning. The U.K., which has both trade schools and a 13 could engage in “graphic sex”. It was later found out that said speaker had 14 standardized curriculum, ranks #8 on the aforementioned list and has a more stable 14 never even played or seen the game. While the publicity certainly helped the 15 economy than the U.S. Also, many U.S. schools also lack Regional Occupational 15 game sell, it also gave a very bad impression of the game, and the medium in 16 Programs (e.g. Video Production, Auto Shop, Culinary Arts, Graphics Arts, Child 16 general, to parents. 17 Care, etc.), which also help students learn job skills to become assets to society 17 18 without college. 18 In addition, if there’s one thing modern society is good at, it’s nit-picking. A 19 19 job where all you do is point out what’s wrong with someone else’s work 20 ACTION TO BE TAKEN: 20 would be an ideal one, and the vast amount of news outlets would require a vast 21 The government will take control of all K-12 schools in the United States. The 21 amount of fact checkers. 22 public schools will have a single curricular standard, while private schools will be 22 23 disbanded and turned into European-style trade/ROP schools for high school 23 ACTION TO BE TAKEN: 24 students and graduates. 24 All media outlets are to contract fact checkers. All news reports are to be 25 screened through these fact checkers, who will consult with either certified 26 experts or extremely reliable sources. These people/sources are to be cited. This 27 will hopefully remove but more likely just lessen the total amount of faulty 28 news reports. - 2 - 42 of emergency lending programs and other arrangements it conjured up in Proposal No. 103 43 response to the crisis. 44 Name: Asseret Frausto 45 Through out this economic recession the government has been bailing out Delegation: South Bay Family/SDSC YMCA 46 unreliable company’s with no regulation. It is completely preposterous that the 47 law does not require the Federal Reserve to disclose information about loans 1 TOPIC OF CONCERN: 48 from its discount window. Such disclosure would show whether the central 2 The corruption of government bailouts to private financial institution 49 bank may have violated the law by lending to any insolvent banks for extended 3 50 periods. It would tell us which banks needed government assistance to survive, 4 JUSTIFICATION: 51 as well as which didn’t. In essence, the government bailouts are a legal form of 5 Our economy is in twilight, and since 2008 the United States government has 52 corruption and contradict the principles upon which our economy is founded. 6 spent approximately $3 trillion in an attempt to secure the financial system and 53 As it is, risk is now covered by taxpayers. Hard- working middle class citizens 7 prevent a second great depression. However, rather than this money having the 54 are being asked to pay for the misdeeds and incompetency of greedy bankers. 8 maximum benefit to our economy and it’s citizens The Emergency Economic 55 This is morally wrong, and it is also dangerous. 9 Stabilization Act of 2008 and the Troubled Assets Relief Program were a 56 10 $700billion response (and tons more has been added since) wasted money that 57 ACTION TO BE TAKEN: 11 could have been better spent, and bought the US an expensive life jacket. The 58 All of government bail outs to private financial institutions will be banned. 12 real problem created by these government bailouts of private companies and 59 With exception if they are determined to be indispensable to the economic 13 banks is the distortion the functioning of the economy in a way that will 60 market, then they shall be interrogated by a clearing house and the Supreme 14 inevitably lead to another calamity. This system has made private corporations 61 Court will have to decide if they shall be granted the bailout by the US Federal 15 dependent on the government for sustainability, and rather than suffer the 62 Reserve. Furthermore, if they are granted a bailout all CEO’s and their top 16 natural consequences for their own risky investments, it will encourage more 63 asides will go bankrupt; this will prevent any bonuses which shall be punished 17 irresponsible risk taking by removing the fear of failure which is a fundamental 64 harshly. Lastly, the US Federal Reserve will be required to disclose ALL 18 principle to the free market systems. The irresponsible actions of countless 65 information about public funds being made available to private companies. 19 banks and private corporations are bailed out by the government, with no 20 interrogations or accountability. This is has a dramatic effect on our economy 21 fiscally and our society ethically. The free market system is predicated on fair 22 competition and good business ethics and the government regulating, but not 23 supporting private enterprise. 24 25 Furthermore, this problem is further compounded by the lack of transparency, 26 oversight and control in regards to exactly how taxpayer funds are utilized. 27 Many can still hear the echos lingering over the public out cry and frustration 28 over companies like Citi Group and AIG continued the practice of giving 29 millions of dollars in bonuses despite taking billions from the US government 30 to stay afloat. Accountability is almost nonexistant as the public receives little 31 to no information on the US federal reserve’s actions in regards to exactly how 32 this money is to be utilized once given; the Clearing House Association, (which 33 represents 20 of the country’s biggest commercial banks) is asking the Supreme 34 Court to keep the bailout details secret. As financial markets shuddered and 35 then nearly imploded in 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve opened its vault to the 36 world on a scope much wider and deeper than previously disclosed. Citigroup, 37 sought help from the Fed at least 174 times during one remarkable 13-month 38 period, and Barclays, the British bank, at one point owed nearly $48 billion to 39 the Fed. At its peak at the end of 2008, the Fed had about $1.5 trillion in 40 outstanding credit on its books. Under orders from Congress, the Fed released 41 details on December 1, 2010 of more than 21,000 transactions under the array - 3 - - 4 - Proposal No. 104 Proposal No. 105 Name: Paige Zimmerman Name: Audrey Graves Delegation: Salinas YMCA Delegation: Santa Barbara YMCA 1 TOPIC OF CONCERN: 1 TOPIC OF CONCERN: 2 Elimination of the Standby Function on All Electronics 2 The removal of political parties in the system of government. 3 3 4 JUSTIFICATION: 4 JUSTIFICATION: 5 Although everyone uses electronics on a daily basis, no one considers how 5 Political parties have existed since the very infancy of the United States. Since 6 much energy is being used by those electronics when they are on standby 6 that time there has always been at least one major political party in the 7 mode. Some electronics, such as televisions, still have electricity running when 7 government and from the very beginning our founding fathers were even 8 they are presumably off. For most electronics, a circuit of electricity is 8 against it. George Washington said in his farewell speech that the political 9 constantly running, in order to monitor the remote control or other sensor. This 9 party systems “serves always to distract the public counsels and enfeeble the 10 circuit is only cut if the electronic is completely separated from its electricity 10 public administration. It agitates the community with ill founded jealousies and 11 source. For example, a computer can use a current of 70-watts when it is not 11 false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments 12 even in use.